Heller, Berkley among frontrunners to seek Ensign's seat

Mar. 7, 2011

Dean Heller, file photo

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Embattled U.S. Sen. John Ensign’s announcement on Monday that he will not seek a third term will bring to the forefront a scramble that has been going on behind the scenes to replace him.

“It’s no surprise,” said Erik Herzig, a political science professor at the University of Nevada, Reno. “Ensign tested the water two months ago to see if there was any way he could salvage this and the answer was 'no.'”

Herzig and other political watchers say Ensign’s departure is actually good news for Republicans, who worried about Ensign’s vulnerability amid a scandal stemming from his affair with a campaign aid.

“What it does is clear the way for (U.S. Rep.) Dean Heller,” Herzig said. “(Republicans) don’t have to talk about Ensign anymore and they have a top-level candidate to run in 2012.”

Heller, a three-term Congressman and former Nevada Secretary of State, has been seen as the frontrunner to succeed Ensign.

He was having a fundraising luncheon at a Reno restaurant on Monday when Ensign made his announcement.

A potential roadblock to Heller’s run to the GOP nomination is Sharron Angle, the Tea Party darling who lost to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in the 2010 election. Heller defeated Angle in the GOP primary for Congress in 2006.

A phone call to Angle’s spokesman was not returned on Monday.

Republican Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki’s name has also been mentioned as a potential candidate, though many speculate he may run for Heller’s Congressional seat if Heller runs for the Senate.

Krolicki issued a statement on Monday, saying: “Today is not the day for any announcement on Lt. Gov. Krolicki’s political future. In the coming days, he and his family will consider opportunities to best serve the people of Nevada.”

A host of potential Democratic candidates, led by U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., are also being talked about as challengers for Ensign’s seat.

“It’s a little harder for them because there’s not an obvious frontrunner, who automatically chases many others out,” Herzig said. “Shelly Berkley is the frontrunner if she wants it. But you’ve got plenty of ambitious Democrats looking at this race.”

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Berkley was mulling a run before Ensign’s announcement.

“I have said from the outset that my plans do not depend on whose name appears on the ballot,” Berkley said in a statement. “Should I choose to pursue a seat in the Senate, I will run on my record of working to create jobs and rebuild our economy, to increase educational opportunities, to serve America’s veterans and to protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare for today’s seniors and future generations.”

Other potential Democratic candidates include Treasurer Kate Marshall, Attorney General Catehrine Cortez Masto and Secretary of State Ross Miller, all elected to second terms in 2010.

Marshall said she is focused on getting through the Legislative session before making any decision about seeking higher office.

Masto, in Washington, D.C., on Monday for a national attorney general’s conference, said she has told Berkley that if Berkley decides to run, she will support her.

If Berkley doesn’t run, Masto said she would consider her options.Decisions made by Heller and Berkley could also create a domino effect with their previously safe Congressional seats being open. In addition, Nevada will be adding a fourth Congressional district this year based on the 2010 Census.

“There will be no shortage of Republicans looking to fill Heller’s seat,” Herzig said. “That could get really messy. Here, the Tea Party (candidate) or any ambition is not going to get scared off by anyone.”

That’s the same case for Berkley’s Southern Nevada district, where a host of term-limited and ambitious Democrats have eyes on the seat.